Cup-holder napkin

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a cup and cup-holder for heated beverages, and in particular, to a cup-holder having an absorbent portion for cleaning up spillage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a cup and cup-holder forbeverages, and in particular, to a cup-holder having an absorbentportion for cleaning up spillage.

[0002] It is common in the Food and Beverage Industry when servingheated beverages to provide a cup with a cup-holder portion forinsulating the hand of the user when holding the cup containing theheated beverage. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,473 (hereinafter, “the'473 Pat.”) issued to Design By Us Company describes a typicalembodiment in the Art for a cup and cup-holder provided in combination.

[0003] The cup-holder described in the '473 Pat. is comprised of both aninner portion and an outer portion. The outer portion is typicallycomprised of a surface that engages a surface on the cup for securingthe cup-holder to the cup. The inner portion is typically formed with asmall air-gap between the inner portion and the surface of the cup toinsulate the hand of the user from the heated beverage contained withinthe cup.

[0004] The cup-holder is typically made from a corrugated medium, a webof paperboard, or virgin kraft or similar easily recyclable cellulosicmaterial. Typically, the cup-holder may also be made from a wax-coveredpaper product, or polystyrene. Generally, by nature these products aredesigned to withstand temperature and moisture from the beverage whichmay degrade or interfere with the utility of the cup-holder. Theseproducts generally provide poor liquid-absorptive qualities for thecup-holder due to the utility mentioned previously.

[0005] Up to the present, the cup and cup-holder was intended forgenerally the purpose mentioned above. The cup and cup-holder representa major source of waste since they are generally discarded after use.Notwithstanding the associated waste of these products, the amount ofwaste created by these products are compounded by using disposablenapkins for cleaning-up spillage. Therefore, a need exists for a cup andcup-holder that may be used in combination and which may be used toreplace the traditional use of disposable napkins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] In accordance with the present invention, in an apparatus form,an absorbent cup-holder sleeve is provided in combination with abeverage cup for containing heated beverages. Generally, the cup-holdersleeve includes in one embodiment:

[0007] an inner portion having a heat insulating section to protect thehand of the user from heat conduction across the cup between the heatedbeverage and the hand of the user; and

[0008] an outer portion having a liquid-absorbent portion for cleaningup spillage of liquid beverage contained therein.

[0009] According to the present invention a method is also provided forproducing a liquid cup-holder sleeve. Generally, the method includes:

[0010] forming a sleeve from a liquid-absorbent material, said sleevehaving an outer portion formed from the liquid-absorbent material; and

[0011] attaching the cup-holder to the cup such that the cup-holdersupports the weight of the cup when held by the hand of the user.

[0012] Reference to the remaining portions of the specification,including the drawings and claims, will realize other features andadvantages of the present invention. Further features and advantages ofthe present invention, as well as the structure and operation of variousembodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below withrespect to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like referencenumbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013]FIG. 1 illustrates a cup-holder sleeve having an inner portion andan outer portion;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of the cup engagement member for theinner portion;

[0015]FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the cup engagement member for theinner portion;

[0016]FIG. 4 is a first embodiment of the outer portion showing thefibrous liquid-absorbent material;

[0017]FIG. 5 is a second embodiment of the outer portion showing thesponge-like liquid-absorbent material;

[0018]FIG. 6 illustrates the cup-holder used in combination with a cup;

[0019]FIG. 7 illustrates the cup-holder removed from the cup and used toclean-up spillage from a surface;

[0020]FIG. 8 shows a cup-holder discarded within the cup;

[0021]FIG. 9 illustrates a cup-holder with two free ends and; and

[0022]FIG. 10 illustrates a cup-holder with a slit on free end which isintended to be mated with a groove on the other free end to form thecup-holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] As shown in FIG. 1, a cup-holder 1 in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention includes an inner portion 5 and anouter portion 10.

[0024] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the inner portion 5 has an inner wall6 having a plurality of cup engagement members 7. In one embodiment, thecup engagement members 7 include nubbins 8 as shown in FIG. 2. In asecond embodiment, the cup engagement members 7 include ribbed members9, as shown in FIG. 3. The invention contemplates any shape, or anycombination of cup engagement members 7, as long as the cup 20 islocated in a spaced relationship with the cup-holder 1. The spacedrelationship between the cup 20 and cup-holder 1 is used to form anair-gap between the cup 20 and cup-holder 1 which limits the conductionof heat between the heated beverage and the hand of the user.

[0025] Preferably, the cup-holder includes a cup engagement member 7 asmentioned previously, although this feature is not essential if thecup-holder 1 is made from a material which is sufficiently limiting interms of heat conduction between the heated beverage and the hand of theuser.

[0026] Having reference to FIG. 1, an outer portion 10 of the cup-holder1 is shown. The outer portion 10 is comprised of a liquid-absorbentmaterial, such as recycled paper product of the variety commonly used asnapkins. Preferably, the outer portion 10 is made from the same materialas the napkin material mentioned previously, however, anyliquid-absorbent material may be used.

[0027] Preferably, the outer portion is made of a liquid-absorbentmaterial, however, both the inner portion 5 and the outer portion 10 maybe made from a liquid-absorbent material, or either the inner portion 5or the outer portion 10, or a portion of either or both inner and outerportions may be made from a liquid absorbent material, so long as atleast a portion of the cup holder includes a liquid-absorbent materialfor providing a liquid absorbent surface.

[0028] In FIG. 4, a first embodiment of the outer portion 10 is shown.The outer portion 10 is comprised of a fibrous recycled paper product 12such as the variety commonly used as napkins, although other materialsmay be used. The outer portion 10 may be individually fixedly attachedto the inner portion 5 to form the cup-holder portion. Alternatively,the outer portion 10 and the inner portion 5 comprise an integralone-piece design.

[0029] In FIG. 5, a second embodiment of the outer portion 10 is shown.The outer portion 10 is comprised of a sponge-like liquid-absorbentmaterial 13. The outer portion 10 may be individually fixedly attachedto the inner portion 5 to form the cup-holder portion. Alternatively,the outer portion 10 and the inner portion 5 comprise an integralone-piece design. The sponge-like material is preferably sufficientlyconstructed so as to resist tearing or splaying when inserted over thecup, while still maintaining sufficient insulating qualities.

[0030] The inner and outer portions of the cup holder may be separatelyor integrally constructed. What is important is that a rigid one-piececup-holder is achieved that may be securely fastened to the cup 20 forinsulating the cup. As shown in FIG. 7, the cup-holder 1 may be tornaway from the cup prior to disposal of the cup and used to cleanspillage or condensate 22 from the surface 23 such as a tabletop, forexample. Alternatively, the cup-holder 1 may be left on the cup 20 andused as a liquid-absorbent substrate for wiping-up liquid condensate 22,e.g., from the hand 25 of a user, as shown in FIG. 6. Having referenceto FIG. 8, the cup-holder 1 may then be disposed of inside the cup 1,thereby eliminating the need for separate individual napkins.

[0031] Although, the aforementioned cup 20 and cup-holder 1 is intendedprimarily for use in conjunction with heated beverages, the presentinvention is useful with unheated beverages. In this case, the innerportion 5 and the outer portion 10, or the inner portion 5 or outerportion 10 need not be comprised of a heat insulative material.

[0032] Preferably, for unheated beverages, both the inner portion 5 andouter portion 10 are comprised of the same material, however, the innerportion 5 and outer portion 10 may be comprised of different materials.

[0033] According to one embodiment, a process is provided for producinga liquid absorbent cup-holder for a cup and cup-holder in combination.In one embodiment, for example, the process of producing the cup-holderincludes:

[0034] forming a sleeve from a liquid-absorbent material, which sleeveis comprised of an outer portion formed from the liquid-absorbentmaterial; and

[0035] attaching the cup-holder to the cup such that the cup-holdersupports the weight of the cup when the cup is held in the hand of theuser.

[0036] In a first embodiment, forming a sleeve involves forming a stripfrom a liquid absorbent material. Preferably, as shown in FIG. 9, thestrip 30 is rectangular to encompass the distance around the entirecircumference of the cup. Also, the free ends 35 and 36 of therectangular strip 30 are fastened together, using an adhesive substanceas one example. Any adhesive that secures the free ends of the strip 30together may be used. Preferably, however, the adhesive used should notdegrade or interfere with the absorptive qualities of the cup-holder nordegrade the cup itself. Also, preferably, the adhesive used to securethe cup-holder together is biodegradable with the environment.

[0037] In a second embodiment, forming a sleeve includes producing arectangular strip 30 which includes a slit 31 on one free end 35 that isengaged by a groove 32 on the other free end 36. The groove 32 engagesinto the slit 31 for holding the sleeve together.

[0038] Attaching the cup-holder to the cup includes sliding the sleeveover the upstanding sidewall of the cup. Alternatively, attaching thecup-holder to the cup 20 includes inserting the groove 31 into the slit32 directly on the cup 20, in accordance with the embodiments of theinvention.

[0039] It should be apparent to one skilled in the art that othermethods for securing the free-ends 35 and 36 are within the scope of thepresent invention.

[0040] While the invention has been described by way of example and interms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to the disclosed embodiments. To the contrary, it isintended to cover various modifications and similar arrangements aswould be apparent to one skilled in the art. Therefore, the scope of theappended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

I claim:
 1. A cup-holder sleeve for use with a beverage container havinga base and an upstanding sidewall attached to the base, said base andupstanding sidewall forming a liquid containing vessel for liquidbeverages, the sleeve comprising: an inner portion that closely followsa portion of the upstanding sidewall of the container, said innerportion having a surface for fixedly securing the sleeve to theupstanding sidewall of the container; and an outer portion attached tothe inner portion, wherein at least a portion of one of said inner andouter portions includes a liquid absorbent material.
 2. A cup-holdersleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner portion is comprised ofa liquid absorbent material.
 3. A cup-holder sleeve as claimed in claim1, wherein the outer portion is comprised of a liquid absorbentmaterial.
 4. A cup-holder sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein both theinner and outer portions are comprised of a liquid absorbent material.5. A cup-holder sleeve as claimed in claim 1, wherein the surface of theinner portion includes at least one cup engagement member, said cupengagement member engaging a surface on the upstanding sidewall.
 6. Acup-holder sleeve as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one cupengagement member brings the inner surface and upstanding sidewall intoa spaced relationship with each other.
 7. A cup-holder sleeve as claimedin claim 6, wherein the surface of the inner portion includes aplurality of individual nubbins, said nubbins providing a space betweenthe inner portion of the sleeve and the upstanding sidewall of thecontainer.
 8. A cup-holder sleeve as claimed in claim 6, wherein thesurface of the inner portion includes a plurality of substantiallyvertical strips, said strips providing a space between the inner portionof the sleeve and the upstanding sidewall of the container.
 9. A methodof producing a liquid absorbent cup-holder sleeve used in combinationwith a cup having a base and an upstanding sidewall attached to thebase, said base and upstanding sidewall forming a liquid containingvessel for liquid beverages, comprising: (a) forming a sleeve havingboth an inner and outer portion, at least a portion of one of said innerand outer portions including a liquid absorbent material; (b) attachingthe sleeve to the cup such that the cup-holder supports the weight ofthe cup when the cup-holder is engaged by the hand of a user.
 10. Themethod of claim 9, wherein forming a sleeve includes: (a) forming astrip from the liquid absorbent material having first and second ends;(b) attaching the first and second ends together to form the sleeve. 11.The method of claim 10, wherein forming a strip includes: (a) cutting apredetermined length of strip material such that the strip when formedhas a diameter less than the diameter of the cup, said strip engaging aportion of the upstanding sidewall of the container for securing thesleeve to the cup.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein attaching thefirst and second ends of the sleeve together includes: (a) forming aslit on the first end of the strip; (b) forming a groove on the secondend of the strip; and (c) inserting the groove of the second end intothe slit of the first end to form the sleeve.
 13. The method of claim10, wherein attaching the first and second ends of the sleeve togetherincludes using an adhesive to secure the first and second ends togetherto form the sleeve.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the strip issubstantially rectangular.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein when thefirst and second ends of the strip are fastened together the sleeve issubstantially cylindrical.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein thediameter of the cylindrical sleeve is less than the diameter of theouter wall of the cup, wherein the inner portion of the sleeve engages aportion of the outer wall of the cup when used in combination with thecup.
 17. A cup-holder sleeve in combination with a beverage containerhaving a base and an upstanding sidewall attached to the base, said baseand upstanding sidewall forming a liquid containing vessel for liquidbeverages, the sleeve comprising: an inner portion that closely followsa portion of the upstanding sidewall of the container, said innerportion having a surface for fixedly securing the sleeve to theupstanding sidewall of the container; and an outer portion attached tothe inner portion, wherein at least a portion of one of said inner andouter portions includes a liquid absorbent material.